Dear guest,
On this page you will find information on:
Where to go
How to get there
Travelling by plane
Where to stay
What else there is to do
Your Destination
In case you could not infer the aim of your locomotion from the above picture (eventhough I thought I was being quite precise, to be honest…), I will elaborate here:
Your destination is Schloss Freudental in Allensbach, Germany. It is a sleepy castle in the South of Germany. It is pink, it’s on a hill, it’s rather small…
You should have no trouble finding it.
Wait, what?! You still want the address? OK, if you insist.
Here it is:
Schloss Freudental
Schlossstrasse 1
78476 Allensbach
Germany
How to get to Schloss Freudental
Jokes aside, the little castle is actually not so easy to find.
So, here are some recommendations and further suggestions:
Come by car
Not gonna lie: the last mile(s) are properly in the middle of nowhere. You would probably do yourself a favour considering coming by car – even if it means renting one.
Doing so will enable you to be fully flexible. Besides, it will allow you to easily visit different attractions in the region before and after the wedding.
Taxi
There are different taxi services in and around Konstanz that will take you places.
For instance:
Seetaxi: 0049 7531 51000
Taxi Müller: 0049 7531 65300
I estimate this will set you back 30-40 EUR, depending on the time of day and whether there’s lot of traffic in Konstanz centre.
Ride Shares
There are several of my friends coming to the wedding from Konstanz. They are very nice and might agree to take you with. Please please tell me wellllll in advance if you would like me to get you into contact with one of them and you can finalize details with them.
By the way: Please let me know if you intend on coming by car and would be willing to take someone with you.
Public Transport
I wouldn’t recommend it, but if you really, really like busses and trains – and a bit of walking in the scorching July heat – I’ve got your back:
You can take the „RE2“ train bound for Karlsruhe from Konstanz to Allensbach. Then take the „203“ bus from Allensbach to Freudental. Then walk around 7mins. Beware this connection exists only hourly and ceases in the early evening.
How to get to Konstanz by Plane
There are different choices of airports in the proximity.
I recommend the following:
Zurich Airport
This airport is around 1.5hs away from Schloss Freudental and offers direct connections to several European towns. You can take a train to Konstanz (30 CHF).
Friedrichshafen Airport
This airport is also around 1.5hs away from Schloss Freudental. It does not offer so many direct connections, but can be nice if you are staying in the region. You can take a bus to Konstanz (8 EUR).
Basel and Baden-Baden Airports
These airports are 2-3hs away from Schloss Freudental, but offer a larger range of budget flights. You can take a train to Konstanz (20 EUR).
Accommodation
Accommodation
Several lodging options are available during your trip to join us at our wedding.
A favourite is Schloss Freudental itself. Several more lodging options are available in the surrounding areas. Be sure to book your place early to secure the best deal for you.
Schloss Freudental
Without a doubt: The castle itself, doubling as a hotel, is the preferred choice. Especially for night owls and those who value personal breaks in their quarters. Accommodations include 2 Junior Suites (Castle), 2 Double Rooms (Castle), 10 Double Rooms (Hallweil Annex), and 1 Family Room with 2 double beds (Hegau Annex). All rooms are recently renovated with modern amenities.
Rooms are assigned and managed by us. We give priority to those who travel from further away, as well as family members. Please let us know if you are interested in a room at Schloss Freudental at your earliest convenience and we will try to accomodate you. Find room rates here.
Should you find that all rooms are occupied, there are plenty of vanity areas, complete with vanity kits, to freshen up. There are also several quiet and less frequented areas that provide a serene environment for your relaxation during the busy day.
You can learn more about the venue here.
Schloss Freudental
Hotel Halm
Hotel „Halm“, four stars, seamlessly extends the ambiance of Schloss Freudental, offering guests a splendid atmosphere. Its standout feature, though, lies in its prime location: conveniently positioned opposite Konstanz’s main station, with numerous shops and public transport stops in close proximity.
Konstanz is the closest „larger“ city around Schloss Freudental. Konstanz is an excellent choice to stay in if you are hoping to extend your trip, as many attractions can easily be reached from there. There are also direct connections to and from Zurich Airport and Friedrichshafen Airport and Konstanz centre.
We have reserved four double rooms at Hotel Halm in Konstanz.
Two à 185 EUR and two à 195 EUR (with lakeview).
Please let us know if you are interested in these at your earliest convenience.
Hotel Halm
Allensbach (Hegne) - Hotel St Elisabeth
he Hotel „St. Elisabeth“, three stars, enjoys a beautiful location just 1 km from Lake Constance, offering bicycle rental, a children’s playground, and free internet. Hegne Train Station is a 7-minute walk away. Schloss Freudental can be reached in 10mins by car, or in 21mins by bike. I recommend this choice to those who come by car, as this offers free parking and it’s quite close to Schloss Freudental.
Room rates, including breakfast:
Standard Single: 135 EUR
Standard Double: 209 EUR
Superior Single: 149 EUR
Superior Double: 239 EUR
Hotel St Elisabeth
AirBnB
If you are hoping for a cost-efficient accommodation, you may consider looking into AirBnBs.
Granted, there’s not a huge offering in the region. However, there are some very nice lodgings provided by some very friendly people. Especially if you are looking to minimize on costs by travelling as a larger group, this option could be for you.
As part of my research, I came across lodgings provided by „Eva“ in Radolfzell and had a little chat with her. She was very nice, so I’m recommending her lodgings:
Evas Seeliebe. One double bedroom, one bedroom with two single beds.
Ferien Apartment Maja. One bedroom with a double bed and a single bed, with the possibility to add an air mattress.
Ferien Apartment Louis. One bedroom with two twin beds.
Book these early if you are worried about accommodation prices! These AirBnBs are also great if you are planning on a longer stay in the region, and are travelling by car.
Evas Seeliebe
Your Adventures at the Lake of Constance
Your Adventures
There are lots of things to do at the Lake of Constance. You should totally consider staying a bit longer so as to make the most out of your trip.
In the following, I have collected some ideas and recommendations of places for you to visit.
Being someone who dislikes long travel distances, I have sorted my recommendations according to how easy the places are to reach from Konstanz.
The map above contains the place names of all the places I mention below and will help you orient yourself.
Places easy to reach from Konstanz - perfect if you are looking for maximally easy trips:
Hafen and Konzil Konstanz
The one place you mustn’t miss is the harbour in Konstanz. It is right next to the Konzil („council“), which is where, at a time when there were three Popes, they decided which Pope to keep. (They settled on a fourth.) There’s also a big statue, the Imperia, which portrays the strength of women as they are actually the ones who actually have the men in their hands. There’s also nice ice cream at PANO, which you must try, and they also rent out pedal boats.
Therme Konstanz
If you are just looking for a quick fix spa that is easy to get to, Therme Konstanz is for you. It has some nice parts such as the heated outside pool with multiple little streams of water around, direct access to Lake Constance and a decent sauna area, with roofdeck for tanlineless (i.e., „naked“) tanning. They have an amazing masseuse – the kind that plays crack-piano on your back. Crack crack crack and all your pains are gone.
Insel Mainau
Insel Mainau is another must-visit destination. It’s a beautiful island full of flowers and the most fancifull flower arrangements. It’s owned by the Swedish royal family, who took control of it during the 30-years war between 1618 and 1648, and who have since made it their holiday home.
Wild- und Freizeitpark Allensbach
If you love animals, you must visit this zoo. It has everything: feel like a disney princess by sitting next to and feeding deer, look at bears, polar wolves (yes), goats, marmots, the falconery, pigs, chickens, bunnies, and go on a cute little choo-choo train, where a nice train conductor tells you all about the place. There are also numerous (HUGE) slides and activity things for children and youthful adults.
Freibad
There are dozens of free and managed beaches around the shores of the Lake of Constance, as well as different pools in close proximity to the lake. Some places also rent out boats. If you don’t mind the colder water and would like to watch your purse, this is a great option for you. These places tend to have really nice Pommes (fries).
Boaties
The Lake of Constance has lots of boaties. There’s boaties for everyone. Little boaties, medium size boaties, big and huge boaties, private boaties or public boaties, rubber boaties, plastic boaties, metal boaties, boaties with one hull and boaties with two hulls („Katamaran“ – between Konstanz and Friedrichshafen), boaties with motors, boaties with sails, and boaties that carry cars. Choose your favourite kind of boatie and enjoy some time on the lake.
Hohentwiel Castle
Not just any castle ruins: the Hohentwiel Castle (ruins) are on top of a (inactive) vulcano! The ruins are quite big and there’s a lot to discover. Just make sure you take a lot of water with you, as the walk up can be quite tedious in the hot summer heat. But when you made it, you will be rewarded with amazing views. The tours are also very good.
Seemaxx Designer Outlet
Test your relationship’s boundaries by dragging your special other to Seemaxx Designer Outlet. They have a range of different stores including fancy ones: Cinque, Daniel Hechter, Gant, Marc O’Polo; modern ones: Calvin Klein, Hunkemöller, Tom Taylor; jeans: Levi’s, Mustang; outdoor apparel: Jack Wolfskin, Odlo, Salewa, Wellensteyn; other sporty ones: Adidas & Puma; chocolate (Lindt) amongst others.
Cycling
The path is the goal! Enjoy some of the very beautiful cycling paths around the Lake of Constance. Ensure your bike has a motor, else you have to put in all the effort yourself.
Places across the pond - these require you to take the ferry and onward busses/car:
Affenberg Salem
„Silent Hill“ is out – Monkey Mountain is the new thing! Visit Affenberg Salem to see barbary monkeys, storks, deer and ducks. This is perfect for children. Just make sure the monkeys don’t steal anything from you. They’re quite cheeky, and called barbar-y monkeys for a reason. Visit here during a quiet time of the day to avoid being overrun by other tourists.
Schloss Salem
If you liked Schloss Freudental, continue on your Schlossploration and visit Schloss Salem. This Schloss is fairly big and features some very majestic buildings, a mini labyrinth, a wine factory, museums, and some artesinal worksshops. This castle is also where I went to school for a year. Apparently I have always been a mini princess.
Haustierhof Reutemühle
This is a smaller zoo compared to Allensbach and has a more homely feel, but they actually have more animals: they have lots and lots of goaties, birbies, sheepies, alpacas, meerkats, nutria, bevers, geese, donkeys, huge tortoises, emus, monkeys, guinea pigs, pigs, otter, cows, and several others.
Therme Überlingen
This is probably the best Therme in the Lake of Constance region. It is big and has a lot of amnemnities: it has pools for minis and juniors, as well as a large donut slide, as well as large heated inside and outside pools. You must try the chicken nuggies at the restaurant. Sam and I would kill for those.
Wallfahrtskirche Birnau
On your way from Meersburg to Überlingen or Unteruhldingen, you will most certainly pass Birnau Basilika. It is quite similar to Schloss Freudental in style, but has more of Jesus’s things. It also has a vinyard leading down to the lake, which is a really nice spot for pictures or a picnic.
Pfahlbauten Museum Unteruhldingen
Life was harsh 3500 years ago, when flora and fauna tried to kill you and Netflix and UberEats hadn’t been discovered yet. So some ancient peoples said „fudge you, soil“ and moved to water. Today, you can visit reconstructions of their houses at Pfahlbauten museum. This attraction has seen a lot of love and there’s a lot to discover. It’s very interactive, as employees dressed in historic clothing tell you all about how life was like back then. Good for slightly older children.
Reptilienhaus Unteruhldingen
On your way down to the Pfahlbauten, it’s a missed opportunity not to quickly pass by the Reptilienhaus there, as it’s right next to the parking. Visit here to fall in love with majestic scale-y bois and fuzzy crawly critters.
Therme Meersburg
Can’t get enough of the Pfahlbauten? Fret not. At Meersburg spa, two outside saunas fashioned in the style of Pfahlbauten await you. This is a nice idea for the evening, when it’s not too hot. The spa itself is rather small. There’s also a nice restaurant in the sauna area.
Promenade Meersburg
Next to the ferry jetty, you will find a nice promenade with lots of nice restaurants. You can also turn inward into the cute historic town with little (touristy) shops. If you continue, you will get to Burg Meersburg.
Burg Meersburg
Are the Schlosses on your schlossploration too fancy for your liking? Do you too thirst for blood? Burg Meersburg has got your back: with thick and sturdy walls, lots of knightly and spikey stuff – its own torture chamber – you can get an idea of how fancy life as a metal can person would’ve been like. This is also great for children.
Zeppelin Museum Friedrichshafen
Friedrichshafen is the Zeppelin’s place of birth! During your trip, if you look up in the skies, there is likely a zeppelin in the air. Some Zeppelins are sitll in use today for (wealthy) tourists. My great-grandfather Ferdinand Baumann was a technician for Zeppelin scaffolding, so I’m quite fond of Zeppelins. It’s not just hot air!
Dornier Museum Friedrichshafen
Dornier was a company which has since merged with Airbus. They were instrumental in evolving the airplane industry: DO-X being one of the biggest planes of its time. The museum houses different projects my dad helped co-develop. If you are interested in this, let me know, as he would love to show you around.
If you don't mind travelling a bit further:
Ravensburger Spieleland
Go to your games cabinet right now! Do you see a games box with a blue corner? There’s a high likelihood that the answer is: yes! Ravensburger Spiele produce a lot of the classic games and puzzles. Their theme park has lots of fun things for children. My dad took me every weekend when I was younger. My favourite was the little train that takes you through the hop fields.
Insel Lindau
If you love historic towns by the lake, you mustn’t miss Insel Lindau. It has a cute harbour, lots of historic houses, artisanal workshops, and good restaurants. Different groups of nobel laureates gather on this island regularlylish in an official event. The few access routes make it easier for police to guard those brains.
Technorama Winterthur
Do you love science? We do! Learn all about how the world works at the Technorama in Winterthur, Switzerland. Everything in Technorama can be touched, played and experimented with: hands on! This is great for families. You should plan a day for this.
Schwarzwald Badeparadies
If you are looking for the nonplusultra spa experience and don’t mind travelling ~1h from Konstanz, you should check out this spa in the Black forest. It comes with multiple saunas and large pools with pool bars (some pools are naked), which are all-round lined with real white orchids and covered by palm trees. You can also soak in some health baths like of salt, zinc or lithium.
Yes, this is a real picture. I have been there. And came back.
Schloss Neuschwanstein
If you go ~2hs by car in the direction of Austria (east), you will reach Schloss Neuschwanstein. The big fancy castle you see on all those postcards. Plus a lot of fellow tourists. It’s definitely worth a visit, the views are stunning and the walk „up“ is nice, too. If you want to visit the inside of the castle, you must make sure to book a ticket well in advance.